The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-09
Carriers 81 contaolon


open sore, ana a carry this from one
person or place to another. This may
not be credited, but 1t has been proved
by direct experiment to be- not only
possible, nut an actual fact The com.
mon house fly, by lighting on q dis.
eased spot, either In an animal or a
man and thence fse=ag % 8 healthy
subject, has been known to impart the
infection to the latter. Whether the
poisonous matter be an animal virus
or a germ of disease. a bacillus, does
not matter; and In this connection it's
well to speak Of other common
methods of possible disease infection.
Apostage stamp may in various ways
convey contagion. One of the simp-
lest and most plausible is that in which
. postage stamp, partially attached to
q letter to pay return postage, is sent
by a person infected with some disease
10 another person. The disease is
transferred, in the first place, to the
adhesive stamp through the saliva,
and in being attached to the letter by
The receiver, the poison may be trans
mitted to him in turn through the
SALIVA.
Another cause may be the infection
of the stamp with disease germs. The
stamp, having been exposed in q room
where a diseased person lies, may be-
come slightly moistened and thus retain
the germ. That this is true can be
proved very simply by a microseopical
examination. 1t is yen possible that
an active and tangible poison, as
arsenic. may accidentally OF intention
ally be attached.
We often see a person holding change
for a moment in the mouth, probably
not knowing that Investigation has
shown that disease germs can be ar
ried by money. II one could see
through what hands the money has
passed, they would hesitate before us
ing such q third hand. Silver money
is as bad as paper money; but while
many would hesitate to hold a dirty
bank note IN their mouth, they think
that a silver piece, because bright, is
apparently clean.
Cigars may convey contagion, espec-
tally syphilis. We have seen a note in
which a physician gave as an excuse
for not loaning a light 10 a friend, that
he was so afraid of the contagion; but if
he was afraid he should have peen con-
sistent and refused to smoke the cigar.
CigeE wrappers are in the Cigar facto-
tories, especially in Cuba, moistened
with the lips and tongue, and the girls
who roll the wrappers are by no mean
Of the highest reputation. Disease ear
be carried in this way. Tobacco,
contrary to the common belief, does
not destroy disease germs, and smok-
ing VIII not confer immunity from
contagion.
ANY one who uses q towel in conI-
mon with the public, o. piece of soap,
or brush and comb, or any requis te of
the toilet, runs the risk of possible in
lection. The subject of antisepsis,
simply another word for cleanliness,
has not necessarily brought to light
many new facts, but has set people to
thinking of old ones. The germ thoary
of disease is to most people a very
vague one, There is u general idea
that disease is carried by germs, and
that the air is filed with these, and it
is a wonder to most people that every
n is not so afflicted; the taity conclude
that the germ theory is an a%bsurdity and
a contradiction. They do not consider
the element of a fertile soil. The germ
is the same as a seed, and all organic
bodies are reproduced by a seed. We
must plant seed in a soil suitable for
it, and the surroundings-heat aud
moisture-must be adapted to it If it is
to grow. AS we descend in the scale
of organic life, we find that some OF the
lower animals can hardly be dis
ttiinguiisttedi from Piiants, and these ares
reproduced not By seed, but by a pro-
cess "a dfYision or budding. A part of
the animal is divided and separated,
and forms a new an NAL.
3 AS we decend In the scale, we find
that instead of seeds we have spores,
as in ferns; but these serve the purpose
Of seeds, and demand a fertile soil be-
fore they can grow. Of many million
spores. but one or two may serve their
the rest die without giving
any result, AS we descend still lower,
we find that the fungi and moulds need
not only q fertile soil, but a peculiar
soil. and many Of them will not grow
except IN or on another organic body.
In medicine, 4 common example IS
the ergot of rye. Another is corn
smut These, in addition TO requiring
q peculiar soil, undergo an ALTERATION
or generation For example, corn
smut is first reproduced on the barber
~ leaf as "rust, : and this rust in turn
produces d smut. The theory of
disease germs is founded on the knowl-
/ edge of the action of the lower animals
and plants. The bacillus may be An
animal or IL may be- plant, poisonous
In itselfor simply carrier Of contagion.
III may even be the result OF disease,
and have nothing to do with it's cause
except as a foreign body. Still as We
ind it present, and find IL always pres
emit we are necessarily induced 70 be-
lieve that It ii an active agent, but IN